Islamic History
Amr ibn Abasa's Conversion to Islam
Amr b. Abese said: “During the time of Jahiliyyah, I had turned away from worshipping the idols of my people.
I saw that the objects of worship were empty;318 I understood that those who worshipped idols had nothing but falsehood.319 They would worship certain stones, which could neither harm nor benefit a person.320 The futility of idol worship was apparent to me.321 I encountered a man from the tribe of Tayy,322 who was a People of the Book.323 I said to him: ‘I am like a man who sits in a place where there are no idols. If someone brings four stones, uses three of them to make a fire in his pot, and worships the most beautiful one, leaving it behind when he migrates, only to worship a more beautiful one wherever he settles—such is my people!’324
I think it is absurd to deify something that can neither harm nor benefit a person. Guide me to something better than this!” He said: “A man will emerge from Mecca, turn your people away from their idols, and invite them to someone else. The Secret Spread of Islam in Mecca 253 When you see or hear of him, immediately obey him! For he will bring the best of religions!’ From that day on, whenever someone came from Mecca, I would ask, ‘Is there any news from Mecca?’ If they said, ‘No,’325 I would return to my family. My family was not far away.
I would stop those coming from Mecca on their camels and ask, ‘Is there any news from Mecca?’ They would say, ‘No!’ One day, as I was traveling, someone came out on a camel. I asked him, ‘Where are you coming from?’ He said, ‘From Mecca.’ I asked, ‘Is there any new news?’ He said, ‘Yes!326 A man has appeared in Mecca. He has turned your people away from their idols and is inviting them to faith and worship!’ I immediately returned to my family.327 I mounted my camel and went to Mecca.328 In Mecca, I dismounted at the place where I usually did. I asked about his whereabouts.329 What should I see?
The Messenger of Allah was hiding! His people were very hostile and aggressive towards him.330 They said to me, ‘You cannot meet him at any other time than when he performs the Tawaf at night!’ So, I lay down in front of the Ka’bah and fell asleep. I recognized him only by his recitation. I immediately went to him and greeted him.331 3/1194. ‘Who are you?’ I asked. ‘I am a prophet,’ he said. ‘What does prophet mean?’ I asked. ‘Messenger of Allah,’ he said. ‘Who sent you?’ I asked. ‘The Exalted Allah sent me,’ he said. ‘With what were you sent?’ I asked.
‘To worship Allah alone without associating any partners, to destroy idols, to help relatives,332 to refrain from shedding blood, to establish road safety…’ he said. ‘How wonderful are the things with which you have been sent! I believe in you and confirm what you have brought!’333 Extend your hand so that I may pledge allegiance to you!” He extended his hand. I pledged allegiance to him regarding Islam.334 ‘Who are the helpers with you on this matter?’ I asked. ‘A free man and a slave,’ he said.335 At that time, Abu Bakr b. Abi Quhafa and his freed slave Bilal were with him.336 ‘I also pledge allegiance to you!’ I said.337 ‘Should I stay by your side? Or should I return to my family? What do you command?’ I asked.338 ‘You cannot do this today.339 You cannot stay by my side!340 Hajar, Isa, 3/6.
- Ibn Sa’d, 4/10, Baladhuri, Ansab, 1/477, Hakim, 3/323, Ibn Asir, Usd al-Ghabah, 6/106. Ibn Sa’d, 4/217, Ahmad b. Hanbal, 4/111, Abu Nu’aym, Dalail, 1/257, Ibn Abd al-Birr, 3/1192. Ahmad b. Hanbal, 4/112, Abu Nu’aym, Dalail, 1/257, Ibn Abd al-Birr, 3/1192. Ahmad b. Hanbal, 4/112, Muslim, 1/569, Ibn Asir, Jamiu’l-usul, 10/76, Ibn Hajar, Isaba, 3/6. Abu Nu’aym, Dalail, 1/257, Ibn Abd al-Birr, 3/1193. Ibn Abd al-Birr, 3/1192, Ibn Asir, Usd al-Ghabah, 4/251. Ibn Sa’d, 4/217. Ibn Sa’d, 4/217, Abu Nu’aym, Dalail, 1/257, Ibn Abd al-Birr, 3/1193. Ibn Sa’d, 4/217. Ibn Sa’d, 4/217-218, Abu Nu’aym, Dalail, 1/257, Ibn Abd al-Birr, 3/1193. Abu Nu’aym, Dalail, 1/257, Ibn Abd al-Birr, 3/1193-1194. Ibn Sa’d, 4/218, Ahmad b. Hanbal, 4/112, Ibn Abd al-Birr, 3/1192-1194. Ibn Sa’d, 4/218, Ahmad b. Hanbal, 4/112, Muslim, 1/569, Abu Nu’aym, Dalail, 1/257, Ibn Abd al-Birr, Ibn Sa’d, 4/218, Ahmad b. Hanbal, 4/111, Abu Nu’aym, Dalail, 1/257, Ibn Abd al-Birr, 3/1194. Ibn Sa’d, 4/218, Ahmad b. Hanbal, 4/112, Abu Nu’aym, Dalail, 1/257-258, Ibn Abd al-Birr, 3/1194. Ahmad b. Hanbal, 4/111, Abu Nu’aym, Dalail, 1/258, Ibn Abd al-Birr, 3/1194. Ibn Sa’d, 4/218, Ahmad b. Hanbal, 4/112, Muslim, 1/569, Abu Nu’aym, Dalail, 1/258, Ibn Abd al-Birr, 3/1194, Hakim, 3/617, Bayhaqi, Dalail, 2/168, Ibn Asir, Usd al-Ghabah, 4/251-252, Ibn Hajar, Isaba, 3/6. Ibn Sa’d, 4/218, Ahmad b. Hanbal, 4/111, Abu Nu’aym, Dalail, 1/258, Ibn Abd al-Birr, 3/1194. Ibn Abd al-Birr, 3/1193, Ibn Asir, Usd al-Ghabah, 4/252. Ahmad b. Hanbal, 4/112, Muslim, 1/569, Hakim, 3/617, Ibn Asir, Jamiu’l-usul, 10/76, Ibn Asir, Usd al-Ghabah, 4/252. Ahmad b. Hanbal, 4/112. Ahmad b. Hanbal, 4/112, Muslim, 1/569, Ibn Asir, Jamiu’l-usul, 10/77. Ibn Sa’d, 4/218, Ahmad b. Hanbal, 4/111, Abu Nu’aym, Dalail, 1/258, Ibn Abd al-Birr, 3/1194, Ibn Ahmed b. Hanbal, 4/112, Muslim, 1/569, Ibn Asir, Jamiu’l-usul, 10/77. Ibn Sa’d, 4/218.